NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 20 March 1923

20 MARCH 1923

A new political organisation was established in the Irish Free State which sought to support the Government.

17,000 miners in South Wales went on strike over the question of non membership of a trade union, with 67,000 men potentially being ultimately involved.

There was a large majority in the building trade ballot who supported strike action.

The French Government said that they were not seeking hegemony in the Ruhr Valley, just security and an agreement for the Germans to pay war reparations.

20 tons of surplus fish was destroyed at Edinburgh fish market as the railways refused to transport it south.

Ben McCarthy, reported as a 16 year old boy, was taken from his home in Ardagh, Bantry and executed by four members of the Irregulars who wanted reprisals for executions which had taken place of their members across the Irish Free State. [further information at https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/collections/cork-fatality-register/register-index/1923-28/]